Part of woman's finger severed in New Jersey mall parking dispute

Story highlights

Two women questioned another about a parking spot, a police report says

One of the women bit off part of the driver's finger, it says

The two women then walked into a mall store, according to the report

Police say the victim was taken to a hospital

A violent spat over a parking spot at a New Jersey mall has left a woman with part of her finger bitten off, the Cherry Hill Police Department says.

Police say the dispute began around 4:40 p.m. Saturday, when Philadelphia resident Tonya Joseph parked her vehicle in the Nordstrom parking lot at the Cherry Hill Mall.

Just after Joseph, 42, left her car, two women questioned her about her parking spot, a police report said. The conversation turned violent, and one of the women bit Joseph, severing a portion of her finger. The two women then walked into Nordstrom, according to the report.

Joseph was taken to Cooper University Hospital in Camden, where she was in stable condition awaiting surgery, the police report said. Calls to the hospital about Joseph's condition were not immediately returned Monday evening.

Police are asking for the public's help in identifying the women. The one who assaulted Joseph is described as heavyset and black with "bushy" hair, wearing red pants and possibly driving an older model black Audi sedan.

The one who was with the attacker was slim and black, wearing a light-colored shirt, a dark jacket and sunglasses, said Lt. Amy Winters, a public information officer for the Cherry Hill Police Department.